To keep skin youthful, flawless & fair, choose your sunscreen wisely
Do you know 90% of skin’s aging signs – wrinkles, pigmentations, fine lines, dryness – can be due to long exposures to sunlight over the years?
Do you know the sunlight doesn’t just bring you heat; it also contains harmful ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiations?
Do you know that UVA radiation goes deep into skin to break collagen and cause wrinkles?
Do you know that UVB radiation can cause sunburn and skin cancer?
Do you know that UVS & UVB radiations reach your skin even when the sun is not visible, like during cloudy days?
Last but not the least; we all know that skin exposed to sunlight gets tanned and looks darker than usual!
The fact of the matter is that if you value your skin (and who doesn’t!), you need to protect it from the damaging onslaught of sun’s rays. That’s why a good quality sunscreen becomes a must-have in your personal care kit.
There is a wide range of sunscreens available in the market with tall and fair claims on UVA, UVB, SPF count etc. How do you – the actual user – pick a really good quality one from hordes of so-so ones? We tell you how.
Check the label: You need a broad spectrum sunscreen.
Sun’s rays are made up of different radiations like ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B. UVA breaks down collagen underlying the skin and causes wrinkles to come up faster. UVB causes tan, sunburn and pigmentation. Plus, UVB also increases skin cancer risk.
Obviously, you need a sunscreen that stops both UVA and UVB radiations from attacking your skin. This can be ensured by picking a sunscreen lotion whose label clearly mentions ‘broad spectrum’.
Check the label: You need a high SPF count in your sunscreen.
SPF means Sun Protection Factor. It is basically a measure of ability to stop UVB sun radiation. Higher SPF provides you higher sun protection against tan, sunburn, pigmentation and skin cancer.
For Indian skin, SPF 15 is the bare minimum requirement. If you go out during peak sun hours, SPF40 is what you must have on your skin. If you regularly spend long hours outdoors and are exposed to pollution, a sunscreen with SPF 50 and in-built protection against pollution particulate matter (PM) is absolutely essential.
To match your various sunscreen needs; you can stock your vanity with more than one sunscreen to wear as required.
WOW Skin Science 10 in 1 Active Miracle Day Cream offers SPF 15 protection, perfect for those who stay mostly indoors during day hours.
WOW Skin Science Fairness Cream offers SPF 20 protection, ideal for those who stay mostly indoors and want fairer complexion.
WOW Skin Science AM2PM Sunscreen offers SPF 50, just what you need when you step out during daylight hours.
WOW Skin Science Anti-Pollution Sunscreen offers SPF 40 with additional protection from pollution particles built in it, perfect for those who spend long hours outdoors in polluted (dust, smoke, fumes, smog etc) environs.
Check the label: You need water resistance.
Next comes water resistance. How is this important? Remember, sunlight makes you sweat and sweat being watery gradually washes away sunscreen. The same thing happens when you are swimming (think pools and beach). Water in the pool washes away your sunscreen leaving your skin exposed and susceptible to sunlight. A non-water resistant sunscreen starts losing effectiveness after about 40 minutes. On the other hand, a water resistant sunscreen can stay effective for as long as a couple of hours. After which, you have to reapply more sunscreen to continue protecting your skin.
As India is a hot and humid country, it makes sense to invest in a water resistant sunscreen.
WOW Skin Science AM2PM Sunscreen and WOW Skin Science Anti-Pollution Sunscreen are water resistant to give you longer lasting protection even in sweaty and humid conditions.
Check the label: Avoid mineral oil, choose natural bioactive care.
As you wear it for several hours a day, your sunscreen needs to give your skin moisturizing care too. Most sunscreens have cheap mineral oil that clogs pores and causes irritation and acne. We recommend that you choose a sunscreen with natural plant oils and extracts for wholesome moisturization.
WOW Skin Science AM2PM Sunscreen and WOW Skin Science Anti-Pollution Sunscreen are powered with premium and pure bioactives such as Moroccan argan oil, liquorice extract and aloe vera extract for healthy skin hydration. WOW Skin Science Anti-Pollution Sunscreen has alteromonas extract from seawaters of French Polynesia for repelling pollution particles along with UVA & UVB radiations.
Just having a good sunscreen lotion isn’t enough. You also need to use it carefully and correctly. Here are a few tips:
• Wear sunscreen underneath, not on top of, makeup.
• Apply sunscreen liberally at least 15-20 minutes before stepping out in the sun.
• Do not apply around the eyes (wear sunglasses) or over broken skin.
• Reapply every two hours if you are outdoors.
• Repeat application every 30-40 minutes if swimming, perspiring or towel drying exposed skin.
Simple precautions like wearing full sleeved comfortable cotton clothing, donning a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses also help cut down the amount of solar radiation attacking your skin.